OREANDA-NEWS. Starting on September 1, qualified exporters will get their tax rebates at Zhujiaqiao in Wuhu of East China's Anhui province, once their cargo departs from the port and is shipped abroad via Yangshan Port of Shanghai.

The move comes after China expanded the departure port tax refund pilot program initiated in 2012 at the ports of Qingdao and Wuhan.

On top of Zhujiaqiao, seven departure ports - Longtan Port in Nanjing, Taicang Port in Suzhou, Lianyungang Port in Lianyungang, Qianwan Port in Qingdao, Chengxi Port in Jiujiang, Yangluo Port in Wuhan and Chenglingji Port in Yueyang - are also allowed to carry out the program, according to a statement jointly issued by the Ministry of Finance, General Administration of Customs, and State Administration of Taxation.

The program will help reduce exporters' cost and shorten the tax refund period. "Once the program is carried out, exporters can get tax reimbursements right here. Time for them to complete the formalities will be cut by 15-20 days," said an official with the port, who believed the move would further raise the profile of the port as well as the city.

Located by Yangtze River, the longest river in Asia, Wuhu was among the top 100 Chinese cities in terms of foreign trade in 2013. It is home to China's leading passenger car exporter: Chery, which has just impressed the country by striking a 13,000-car deal with Venezuela amid a nationwide vehicle sales slump.

Zhujiaqiao will increase the number of Yangshan-bounded cargo liner services from the current five times a week to a daily basis, a source with the Anhui Wanjiang Logistics Co.said.